Microsoft Unveils New Philanthropy Organization

Microsoft Unveils New Philanthropy Organization

December 16, 2015

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Mary Snapp, Microsoft

Microsoft, a Northwest-based leader in global corporate philanthropy, has announced a new organization within the company: Microsoft Philanthropies.

The new group will be led by Mary Snapp, a 27-year veteran of Microsoft's legal and corporate affairs team. Microsoft general manager Lori Forte Harnick will be chief operating officer for Microsoft Philanthropies. The group will report to Microsoft President Brad Smith.

Through Microsoft Philanthropies, we will contribute in new and more impactful ways to a societal ecosystem that connects the benefits of technology to those who need it most and work harder to drive inclusive growth of the global economy. We will strive to bridge gaps within and across communities through more widespread access to technology that enhances the productivity and quality of life for the people of those communities. The opportunity to do this is greater than ever with the power of cloud computing and the potential of data science.

To bridge these gaps, Microsoft Philanthropies will invest in digital inclusion programs and partnerships. These assets include our strategic societal investments of cash and technology, the technical talents of our employees, our commitment to creative and collaborative partnerships, and the reach and scale of our brand and voice.

Through Microsoft Philanthropies, we will integrate and leverage these assets to drive greater inclusion and empowerment of people who do not yet have access to technology and the opportunities it offers and enables. As we do so, we will build on the foundation of Microsoft’s 30+ years of giving and the insights from our many valued partners and the communities they serve, and seek new ways to achieve greater outcomes for a broader segment of the world’s population.